The Common Good Podcast

A popular tarot card reader with nearly a million followers deleted her entire platform after coming to faith in Christ, saying simply, "Jesus Christ has saved my life." She lost 30,000 followers overnight, and Brian From holds her story up as evidence that God is still doing the kind of dramatic, costly transformation we read about in the book of Acts. As America's 250th birthday approaches, Brian digs into what proper Christian patriotism actually looks like, drawing on Augustine and Daniel Darling's guidance: love your country, give thanks for it, work for its renewal, but keep that love rightly ordered beneath love for God. Meanwhile in England, King Charles is redefining his role from "Defender of the Faith" to "protector of space for faith" — a shift Albert Mohler calls a window into where post-Christian secularization eventually leads. Two pieces wrestle honestly with the gap between the Christianity we market and the Christianity we actually live: one on why Christians should stop pretending faith is easy, and another making the case that doubt, far from disqualifying you, can actually deepen and strengthen genuine faith. Venezuelan churches step up to fill gaps the government can't after the devastating earthquake. And Brian closes with a personal reflection on John Mark — the disciple who failed, was written off by Paul, and was later called "useful" by that same Paul — as a picture of how no one's worst moment has to be their final chapter.

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Why does the word "Appalachia" conjure a specific image in your mind, even if you've never been there? Ben Norquist, co-author of Every Somewhere Sacred: Rescuing a Theology of Place in the American Imagination, joins Brian From to unpack what he and co-author Brian Miller call "land stories" — the often inaccurate, sometimes harmful narratives American Christians tell about places and the people who live there. Some of these stories operate on the surface, shaping how we think about a region like Appalachia. Others run far deeper, tracing back centuries to colonial-era assumptions about who belongs on land and who doesn't, assumptions that still quietly shape modern politics and attitudes toward immigrants and neighbors. Drawing on his own research sitting across the table from Palestinian Christians and professors, Ben makes a careful, humble case that most American Christians' mental picture of Palestine and the Holy Land comes from inherited narratives rather than direct encounter, and he invites listeners to hold that imagination loosely and become genuine students of a place rather than passive recipients of a story. Find Ben's writing at the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice's Substack, and look for Every Somewhere Sacred wherever books are sold.

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World Cup visitors have discovered something unexpected about American culture: ranch dressing. Brian From opens with that lighthearted detail before diving into heavier territory — a record 25 million adults under 35 are now living with their parents, driven primarily by housing affordability rather than unemployment, and what that means for a generation's sense of independence and identity. A Twitter debate erupts after a pastor suggests young children are too distracting in worship services and should stay in kids' ministry, sparking pushback from those citing research on family worship and faith retention — Brian lands in the middle, advocating for excellent kids' ministry without mandating it. A deep dive into Barnabas, arguably the most underrated figure in the book of Acts — trustworthy with people and resources, an advocate for the overlooked like Paul and John Mark, and a leader who knew exactly when to step back and let others surpass him. Former President Obama's reflections on George Washington's contradictions spark a broader conversation about how to hold both admiration and honest critique of flawed people, including ourselves. A local church's closing after losing its theological grounding prompts sober reflection on what happens when churches drift from scripture and mission. Relevant Magazine examines how social media is quietly terrorizing Christians' prayer lives by making true silence nearly impossible to access. And the Buffalo Bills' decision not to honor OJ Simpson in their new stadium becomes a pointed challenge to the church: do we honor character, or just platform and results?

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JD Vance said that if Watergate happened today, it would barely be a 12-hour news story — and Brian From's response isn't relief, it's concern, because he thinks Vance is probably right, and that says something troubling about how far the character bar has fallen in American politics. Brian takes a surprising position on a hot debate: Texas is poised to require millions of public school students to study Bible stories, and as an evangelical pastor, he argues this is a bad idea — public schools shouldn't be infusing curriculum with any religion's teachings, his own included. Gambling disorder diagnoses have spiked over 60% in states that legalized sports betting since 2018, a sobering data point on the real cost of expanded access. Asbury Theological Seminary was removed from the United Methodist Church's approved ordination list over its traditional stance on marriage, a sign of widening fractures between evangelical and mainline institutions. A viral TikTok from a 21-year-old whose "hobby" is lying in bed for eight hours sparks a conversation about what leisure has become for Gen Z. Amazon Prime Day sales were down 16%, and Brian connects it to a simpler explanation than marketing failures: people just have less money. And two deeply practical spiritual pieces close out the hour — why no one drifts into godliness (spiritual growth requires intentional habits, not passive churchgoing), and the story of John Mark, whose public failure didn't define the rest of his life, and whose later faithfulness made him "useful" again in Paul's own words.

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Before reviewing movies was an internet cottage industry, Plugged In was doing it as a four-page newsletter to youth pastors back in 1991. Adam Holz joins Brian From to share that origin story before diving into this week's big release: Supergirl, James Gunn's reboot of the DC universe's most iconic heroine — and it's a shockingly dark departure from the squeaky-clean character most people remember. This Kara Zor-El is grieving, drinking, cynical, and gets pulled into a revenge plot involving a poisoned dog that turns out to be the most compelling part of the whole film. Adam and Brian dig into the bigger trend behind it — why so many superhero franchises keep darkening their once-wholesome characters, what that says about culture's appetite for angst over "boring" goodness, and why Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy remains the gold standard DC has been chasing ever since. They close with a fun detour into YouTube's endless niche communities, whatever your interest, there's a corner of YouTube built entirely around it. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.

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Three San Francisco Giants pitchers wrote Genesis 9 — God's covenant sign of the rainbow — on their caps during Pride Night, and the backlash has been swift. Paul Batura, VP of Communications for Focus on the Family, joins Brian From to unpack the controversy and the bigger question underneath it: is it appropriate for Christian athletes to publicly profess their faith? Paul traces a long line of precedent, from Billy Sunday to Eric Liddell to Tim Tebow, and makes the case that one player's courage tends to be contagious. He's not surprised by the intensity of the backlash, but he also senses fans and even corporations growing less afraid to push back against pressure to fall in line. The conversation extends beyond sports to everyday workplaces — how do you discern when and how to share your faith at the office without being obnoxious about it? And with the World Cup drawing tens of millions of viewers worldwide, Paul and Brian discuss how moments of public prayer by athletes can plant seeds even among people who'd otherwise never think about faith. Paul's prediction: this conversation isn't going away, and Christians are well-positioned to engage it thoughtfully. Find Paul's writing at focusonthefamily.com and the Daily Citizen.

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"I'm good, he's over there, I'm over here" — that's how Wesley Martin once described his relationship with God, the same distant dynamic he had with his own absent earthly father. Ahead of Father's Day, Wesley shares his story with Brian From: a childhood without a dad, a slide into drug dealing, partying, and addiction trying to fill a void only his Heavenly Father could fill, and the moment everything changed in a rehab facility where he gave his life to Christ. Sixteen years into recovery now, Wesley talks candidly about what it's like to father three kids without ever having had a model for it himself, including a non-traditional decade as a stay-at-home dad while his wife's nursing career took off. He shares a moment that brought him to tears — asking his youngest son to describe him in one word, and hearing "sweet" instead of the harsh coach he feared he'd become. His message to dads who feel like they're failing: be present, keep trying, and let God take care of the rest. And to anyone struggling to see God as a loving father: just take one step toward Him, and He'll take care of the rest.

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As America's 250th birthday approaches, Brian From tackles a genuinely tricky question for pastors: how patriotic should a Sunday worship service actually be? Drawing on Russell Moore's guidance, Brian makes the case for a middle path — genuine thanksgiving for the blessings of being American, without confusing love of country with love of God or turning the worship service into a flag-waving rally. From there, a thoughtful look at the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, with fears of up to 100,000 casualties, and what it means to live with urgency in a world where life can change in an instant. A reflection on essentials versus non-essentials in the faith — and the danger of turning secondary theological debates into faith-dividing issues. A candid, vulnerable moment where Brian admits his own struggle with envy and jealousy watching other people's vacations on social media, and why thankfulness is the real antidote. A Gospel Coalition piece reframing Christian identity around belonging rather than imitation — you're not just trying to be like Jesus, you belong to him. And a closing word from David Jeremiah on conquering worry by verbalizing it, remembering God's care, and bringing it to him in prayer.

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Jeff Ford leads Man Up and Go, an organization dedicated to ending fatherlessness by championing healthy biblical masculinity — and his story starts with an adoption class he and his wife wandered into back in 2010. That decision led to adopting two kids from Ethiopia and China, a mission trip to Uganda that changed his life, and eventually a full-time calling to disciple men toward what he calls being a "Patros" — an ancient word meaning father, rooted in Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 4:15 about spiritual fathers who pass on wisdom to the next generation. Brian From talks with his old Wheaton College dormmate about his new book, The Way of the Patros, 74 short, three-minute chapters built for the average guy in any town to grow as a man of faith a few minutes at a time. Jeff doesn't shy away from hard data either — citing a stat that the average man has less than one close friend — and makes the case that healthy masculinity requires real vulnerability, brotherhood, and putting faith into action, not just talk. Learn more at manupandgo.org and patros.us, and find The Way of the Patros on Amazon, available for presale through July 28.

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"Judge not, lest ye be judged" might be the most misapplied verse in scripture. Brian From walks through Rachel Gilson's piece at the Gospel Coalition unpacking what Jesus actually meant in Matthew 7 — it's not a prohibition on moral discernment, but a call to humble self-examination before correcting others, with love as the motive, not arrogance. Then a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin, prompted by reports that a sports journalist lost an $800,000 job after an affair with a married NFL coach came to light — a reminder that sin entangles even when it's never publicly exposed. Four years after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Brian clarifies a common misunderstanding: abortion wasn't eliminated, it was returned to the states, and the pro-life cause remains fundamentally grassroots. A genuinely helpful piece from Relevant Magazine on feeling spiritually stuck even when you're doing everything "right" — and why dryness isn't a sign of failure but often where real growth quietly happens. A new study links anxiety and depression in young people to difficulty recalling positive memories, with real implications for parents about prioritizing shared experiences. And a closing reflection from Randy Alcorn on choosing daily to trust God's sovereignty — even when life is genuinely hard.

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